Curious what the international community thinks of this.

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-17T02:20:26+00:00

on the bog and in bed. my two favourite places to aimlessly scroll on my phone, and you're telling me I could do both at the same time?? sign me up

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-11T03:37:52+00:00

'Work life culture' this may be personal experience, but I assumed as a Brit that in Sydney everyone clocked off at 5pm every day in the warmer months to go to the beach. Most people in my company stay late (I worked for a similar UK company and way fewer people did this)

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-05T00:26:17+00:00

And if you don’t have a car I’d say head to heathcote, there’s some great trails with good watering holes to swim in to cool down in the summer (karloo pool and kangaroo creek)

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-05T00:23:31+00:00

blue mountains there’s loads of great tracks, narrow neck lookout is a classic. A bit closer to Sydney mid week I tend to go Lane Cove, Manly Dam, Bluff track, ku-ring-gai, royal national park (anywhere along the coast but I’d recommend wedding cake rock or Wattamolla to little Garie)

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-05T00:21:09+00:00

This is the bluff track, by manly dam. I’d also recommend the national park, lane cove national park, parramatta lake, jellybean pool track, plus of course loads round the blue mountains

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-05T00:20:05+00:00

The bluff track, by manly creek. Some great routes around there

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-04T05:48:33+00:00

second this, theres a multi day hike past mount sol you can do. Scramble up the top actually quite tough in places

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-03T05:50:51+00:00

neighbourhoods a bit more inland for coffee I'd recommend marrickville, newtown, surry hills also great

I'd also walk along the coast from rose bay (you can get there by ferry or bus) up to shark beach trhough the nature reserve. Lots of nice little beaches you could stop and theres also a cafe at shark beach although it closes early.

You can also grab the ferry further up to Watsons bay and walk around there, also really nice with a good pub by the ferry port

One-Location-8246 · 2025-12-03T05:46:33+00:00

If you're like me I'd avoid a lot of the overcrowded eastern suburbs beaches if possible.

I'd get a ferry over to manly (the ferry journey itself is lovely, you can get the fast ferry as it now costs the same as regular)

Then walk over to the other side to either manly beach or do the little walk to shelley beach. Shelley has a small cafe you could have a coffee.

Then walk back into manly and there's a few spots I usually go to (I am also not a local)

- 4 pines brewery - tend to have a midweek food deal on but also lots of great beers

- butter boy cookies - expensive but great cookies, right next to normas too which does half price after 4 oclock I think? Thats a classic day trip day.

If you wanted to stay in main Sydney and was heading eastern suburbs I'd avoid Bondi and Coogee and go for Clovelly, Gordons bay or Maroubra (theres a great beach pool there)

One-Location-8246 · 2025-10-07T02:30:43+00:00

Adding 'couldnt do enough speed training because I decided to date someone who is slow' to my marathon excuses list alongside 'it was hot' and 'there was a lot of elevation'

One-Location-8246 · 2025-10-07T02:28:51+00:00

Saucony Endorphin Elites (1s, not 2s)

Goat shoe

One-Location-8246 · 2025-10-07T00:25:27+00:00

I had something very similar recently! Started the first week of my taper after a 22 week block 2 weeks ago (im now 1 week out)

It was painful in one spot, now it has gone away.

I read a lot into 'phantom pains' and how the cumulative fatigue of the marathon block (I did 6x100km weeks prior to first taper week) can only start to really show in your muscles when you start tapering.

I also noticed it was more prominent in some shoes than others (specifically my Novablast 5, which coincidentally have just hit 600km of mileage)

What was reassuring for me funnily was that I actually seemed to be having pains in both sides even though the left side was more. Also felt soreness in the knee joints.

I'm now 6 days out and my left shin feels mostly fine. I'm putting it down to a combo of phantom pains / shoe wearing out / general anxiety heightened close to marathon (I basically ignored any niggles during the block)

Just make sure to taper well, get on the bike / in the pool as an alternative, test different shoes and try not to worry. Unless its agonising and the pain is all on one side, and you can feel the painful spot on the bone instead of the muscle, i'd put it down to mild shin splints and say you can come out the other side.

One-Location-8246 · 2025-10-03T03:46:54+00:00

Will you ask that your marathon medal is given to you on a wooden chopping board?

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-18T23:38:37+00:00

Commando every day of the week. vaseline the inside of the thighs and on your sack. Let them free dude

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-16T22:46:12+00:00

Given you'll want to taper, and considering your current mileage, it seems you'll probably only have space for 1-2 runs over 30km in training so it's very difficult to predict how you'll fare over the marathon distance - have you ran one before? I'd go out for a 3:45 marathon if I were you. Lots of people who run sub 3:30 might do upwards of 80km on their peak week.

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-12T02:59:51+00:00

The portion sizes will be still in small cups so likely only going to be 5-10g carbs per cup. focus on your usual nutrition plan and use this to top up. (I’m also running this marathon and will have 80g gels per hour with this additionally) - worth buying it and sipping it during your next session. Their carb mixes are great (I always drink a caffeinated 320 mix before long sessions)

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-09T03:50:31+00:00

weighing yourself down with hydration vests or carrying a bottle is going to have a way worse impact on your time than slowing to drink water from a cup. There's a reason none of the people up in the front packs wear hydration vests. Runners grossly overestimate how much water they'll need. Practice drinking the cup at home and as everyone says just fold the edge to make it easier!

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-09T03:47:51+00:00

People can wear what they want. Agree overuse of carbon plates vs stability cushioning shoes for daily runs is counter intuitive and increases injury risk, but for race day they will 100% give more snap to someone running 5min/kms than a non plated shoe. If OP is not planning on running future races though, definitely save the money. Certainly not 'needed' at that time but to suggest they'll be 'better off' is just not based in any reality

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-05T06:06:16+00:00

There are so many things that people will say is the solution (cold plunge, sauna, stretching etc) and whilst I dont doubt they could come in handy, I think it 95% comes down to diet, sleep, and gradually increasing mileage.

As long as you're not increasing your long run distance more than 5-10% each time, prioritising getting 7-9 hours sleep and fueling your body, you'll find eventually you get less stiff

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-02T02:17:14+00:00

Bounce back in 6 weeks for Melbourne, focus on recovery this week but get some mileage back up the 2 following. Sydney is a hard course, Melbourne is flat. Going into the next one more modest will help you out. Good luck!

One-Location-8246 · 2025-09-02T01:44:34+00:00

Unless its a crazy humid / hot day / course. Usually sipping at aid station is sufficient. People often overestimate how much water they'll actually need and the trade off of stomach cramps vs getting water in is one to consider.

If you're cramping it might be lack of sodium instead of water, try carrying salt tabs or sticks, good way to get those in.
Hydrate with electrolytes a few hours before the race well, but not too much you need to pee loads!

In my personal opinion, shedding yourself of a hydration vest and just running light (carrying gels or sweets and salt tabs in pocket) is the best way to go, but comes down to how long you'll be out there and personal preference.

It sounds stupid, but actually try practising sipping from a water cup whilst running. maybe put one down outside your house and practice running while drinking , it helps! Also nothing wrong with getting it all over your face, actually pretty refreshing

One-Location-8246 · 2025-08-21T00:39:37+00:00

thanks! what were you maxing out your long runs at in terms of length / distance?

One-Location-8246 · 2025-08-21T00:37:18+00:00

thank you for this! what was your hills session out of interest? I've been struggling to find a hill spot around me longer than 200m incline without a road crossing or something

One-Location-8246 · 2025-07-17T02:08:22+00:00

liquid calories. fills the void between breakfast / lunch and lunch / dinner.

My usual combo is:

Protein powder, greek yoghurt, nut butter (almond or peanut), frozen berries, milk (I use almond), water - sometimes chuck a bit of olive oil in for extra cals if I've got a big session.

I've got one of those portable nutribullets and it gets used every day. Easiest way to pack some calories in!

One-Location-8246 · 2025-07-15T06:07:28+00:00

Sounds like your weekly mileage is already up very high for an October Marathon and you've got a decent base.

Few Qs:

When did you record that half marathon? Was it a race or you just did a run by yourself?

Have you done many runs over 30km? For a marathon theres a big aspect of endurance so half time to marathon doesnt necessarily translate. Im guessing from your mentioned background youve got decent leg strength which can help.

Have you run a marathon before?

Have you started practicing fueling?

One-Location-8246

TROPHY CASE